Hagel Wins Backing of Key Senator

Defense-Secretary Nominee Gains Schumer's Support After Meeting Hashing Out Views on Israel, Iran

By

Andrew Grossman and

Sara Murray

Updated Jan. 15, 2013 6:54 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON—Former Sen. Chuck Hagel's nomination for defense secretary cleared a major hurdle Tuesday as Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York said he would support his onetime colleague after the two men met Monday at the White House.

Mr. Schumer's move is an early sign that Mr. Hagel's Capitol Hill outreach is paying off. The former Nebraska senator—who was elected as a Republican but has fallen out of favor with the party over his foreign-policy views—has been making calls and setting up meetings with senators who...